First COVID-19 death confirmed in Interior Health region

Correction: A previous version of this story cited three additional cases of COVID-19 were reported at Bylands Nurseries in West Kelowna on April 15, as reported by the provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. Interior Health said this is a “discrepancy in numbers” provided to Henry. The total case count remains at 23.

The first COVID-19 death in the Interior Health region was announced by health officials today (April 15).

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry reported the man who died was in his 60s. Henry said the man had been recovering mostly at home but he went to hospital with an “acute condition” shortly before his death.

The province was notified of the man’s death yesterday but Henry did not confirm the date of death.

Another three cases of the virus were also confirmed at West Kelowna’s Bylands Nurseries on April 14, bringing the total case count to 23.

“These cases are considered, from a public health perspective, as part of the original outbreak first declared on March 28. That outbreak would be considered over when the MHO is satisfied that there is no longer transmission, typically after two full incubation periods since the last case,” said Interior Health in a statement to media.

The only other potential outbreak in the region is at Okanagan Correctional Centre, which remains at just one case.

“We are in this together, we are still in the midst of it,” Henry said.

“We are not at the point yet where we can let up.”

A total of 146 cases have been confirmed in the region, an increase of five since yesterday.

Provincially, three more deaths were confirmed, bringing the death toll 75, with 1,561 total test positive cases. Of those, 955 have recovered; a 61 per cent recovery rate for known cases.